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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Minorities paid less in retail jobs, study finds

From Wire Reports

WASHINGTON – African-American and Latino cashiers, salespeople and first-line managers are paid less, are less likely to be promoted off the floor and more likely to be poorer than their white counterparts in the retail industry, a new study showed Tuesday.

The study, done by the NAACP and Demos, a public policy organization, found that in the major jobs held by retail workers, African-Americans are paid the least, followed by Hispanics. They also are less likely to get full-time jobs instead of part-time and are underrepresented in management positions.

U.S. factory orders take plunge in April

WASHINGTON – U.S. factory orders tumbled in April, a sign that manufacturers are struggling amid a stronger dollar and cheaper oil.

Orders fell 0.4 percent in April, marking the eighth decline in nine months, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. The key category that tracks business investment plans – non-military capital goods excluding aircraft – slipped 0.3 percent. Orders for electronic products plunged 4 percent, while demand in the volatile aircraft category tailed off sharply.

Nestle drops artificial flavors from some lines

Nestle USA said Tuesday it will remove artificial flavors from products in the DiGiorno, Tombstone, California Pizza Kitchen, Jack’s, Hot Pockets and Lean Pockets lines by the end this year.

Nestle said it also aims to cut sodium by 10 percent from 2013 levels and that taste would not be affected.

The maker of packaged foods is trying to make its offerings more appealing to diners who prefer healthier fare.

Fired Men’s Wearhouse founder starts service

NEW YORK – Men’s Wearhouse founder George Zimmer, who was ousted from the suit retailer two years ago, still wants you to “like the way you look.”

But this time, you don’t have to walk into a store to do so.

Zimmer launched zTailors this week, a company that sends clothing tailors to homes or offices. Booking a tailor to hem skirts or taper baggy shirts is done through the zTailors website or with a phone call. The company said it has hundreds of tailors in more than a dozen states and plans to be nationwide by the end of the summer.

Ex-Domino’s chief named Toys R Us CEO

WAYNE, N.J. – The chairman and CEO of Toys R Us is retiring and will be succeeded by an executive with experience in taking companies public.

The privately held toy retailer said Tuesday that David Brandon will take over from Antonio Urcelay on July 1. Brandon, 63, is the former chairman and CEO of Domino’s Pizza, and helped that company with its initial public offering. Brandon also served as president and CEO of Valassis Communications and assisted with its transition to a publicly traded company.

Rising prices ease eurozone concerns

LONDON – For the first time this year, consumer prices across the 19-country eurozone are rising, easing fears that the region is set for a prolonged Japan-style era of debilitating deflation.

Official figures Tuesday from the European Union’s statistics agency, Eurostat, showed that consumer prices across the single currency bloc were up 0.3 percent in May from the year before.

That’s up from the flat reading in April and represents the first positive reading since November.